Note: This interview was conducted before Carlos Zambrano suffered an injury. We wish him the best as he recovers from a successful surgery.

Today was supposed to mark a special occasion for Carlos Zambrano, as the New England Revolution II midfielder was set to travel to the state he grew up in – Florida – to face Inter Miami CF II.

But an injury sustained in Sunday’s match against Philadelphia Union II will put him on the sidelines for the foreseeable future. Zambrano is now recovering after a successful surgery.

It’s a heartbreaking development for the 21-year-old, who owns five goals and four assists in MLS NEXT Pro during his first professional season.

But setbacks have never stopped Zambrano from reaching his goals.

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Born in Venezuela, Zambrano moved to the United States at 10 without knowing any English.

“It was a lot of late nights with my mom translating my homework,” Zambrano told The Blazing Musket. “It was definitely one of the biggest challenges I've had, because I wasn't able to communicate with anybody that didn't know Spanish.”

Zambrano was often on his own at school, smiling and doing his best to stay out of trouble. Day-to-day life was difficult, but any concerns disappeared when he played soccer.

The game has been part of his life for as long as he can remember – his grandfather even played for the Venezuelan National Team – so taking the field came naturally, even if he didn’t speak the same language as many of his teammates.

As luck would have it, he met two friends whose mom spoke Spanish. The boys became best friends, and the mom became a protector, helping him adjust to life in the United States.

Zambrano starred on some good teams, but never got an academy invite, and instead played in the Elite Club National League. It wasn’t the highest level, but he drew plenty of interest from college scouts, especially during a semifinal run his senior year, where he had five goals in the first two games.

He was verbally committed to a Division I school until his scholarship was unexpectedly taken away for reasons he’s still unsure of. He pivoted to Daytona State, a three-hour drive from home.

After scoring 13 goals and 16 assists in 32 matches (27 starts), he transferred to Syracuse University with the help of his agent.

“I trusted myself,” Zambrano said. “I knew that JUCO (Junior College) wasn't where I wanted to be, but if this is the route that I have to take to get to the bigger goal, then I will.”

Syracuse presented a new set of challenges. The cold weather took time to adjust to – “It was white everywhere” – as did the level of play. He had one goal in 12 appearances (four starts) during his junior year, but knew he had more to offer.

“I worked very, very hard that summer,” Zambrano said. “I knew if I wanted to pursue this dream of playing professionally, I had to really show that upcoming season.”

He appeared in all 20 matches during his senior year, starting 11, and finished with a team-high five goals and three assists. His early-season hat trick against Colgate University was the first for the Orange since 2019.

Zambrano’s journey has been an unconventional one, but he wouldn’t trade it for anything. Instead of being resentful, he’s grateful. While he’s always believed in himself, he’s had many who have supported him along the way.

“I know my potential,” Zambrano said. “I'm a very confident player on the field. I know what I'm able to do, but until you give me a chance, I can't prove myself to you. I just trust that when I get the chance, I know I’m going to be able to take it.”

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Zambrano wasn’t selected in the MLS SuperDraft, but history shows he performs when given the chance. The team that did that was the Revolution’s second team.

Heading further North meant more undesirable weather, but the people and culture he’s encountered have made it a perfect destination.

An early training session revealed what the transition was going to be like, as the ball moved quickly. But he was able to adapt – as he’s done throughout his career – with the backing of his teammates and coaches.

Head coach Pablo Moreira has been particularly helpful.

“He's a very respectful guy, and overall, just someone who knows how to manage different types of players,” Zambrano said. “I’m an attacking player who likes to create, but sometimes that causes me to lose the ball in transition. [Moreria is] very hard on me, but I prefer that to someone who's just going to let me do what I do and then lose the ball, and say, ‘It's okay.’”

Zambrano noted that he’s developed a better understanding of when to keep the ball and when to find a seam.

Playing in Foxborough has also given him a glimpse at what first-team soccer looks like, as he’s trained with the Revolution on several occasions. Each opportunity has been beneficial, providing a goal to strive towards.

“You visualize yourself in those moments,” Zambrano said. “That's what you train every day for, to try to be in those spots, not just for one training, not for just two trainings, but for the rest of the year.”

A special moment came when he was on the roster for the Revs’ U.S. Open Cup game against Orlando City. While he didn’t get into the game, he feels fortunate to have been on the bench and in the locker room.

“It was a great experience, so I'm very thankful, very grateful,” Zambrano said. “Hopefully, soon it comes to reality.”

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The outpouring of support from teammates and staff after Zambrano suffered his injury tells you a lot about the humble, hard-working player. 

The path to where he is today has been full of bumps, but that’s never gotten him down. 

He recalled a pre-college trial with Inter Miami’s United Premier Soccer League team. The final assessment was that he was a good player, but the timing wasn’t right.

“No shade, no shame, completely understood,” Zambrano said. “I did my part, and I went to school.”

Zambrano has always focused on what he can control, looking for opportunities to get better. After any given training session, his coaches are telling him to get off the field while he tries to sneak in one or two extra free kicks.

Perhaps fittingly, Zambrano’s first goal with Revs II was a set-piece stunner against Red Bull New York II. He followed it up with his trademark celebration: A backflip.

“I used to watch this show, Kickin' It,” Zambrano said. “It's a karate show, and Jack, he used to do a lot of backflips. That's the kid I was. I was always energetic, and one time I just tried it.”

Zambrano’s injury means that some of his dreams will have to be put on hold. He won’t play in front of friends and family today, and he won’t have more chances to train with the first team this year.

But this is just another obstacle he will have to overcome. If history is any judge, he’ll navigate it with grace.

“I didn't get drafted,” Zambrano said. “I got invited to come here, and I was able to show a lot. Thanks to Pablo, he signed me, and it's been a blessing to be here.

“But as I said, nobody drafted me, nobody gave me a chance, and I feel like that's the main focus of my story: Every chance that I've gotten, I've been able to come out of it stronger and be able to show what I am about.”